The Primal Hunter

”Should we not be out attempting to sway the vote for World Leader?” Jacob was asked by the middle-aged trade manager he had brought along for the Congress. Maria and Bertram also looked at him questioningly.

They controlled several Pylons already, had many votes between them, and an Augur with frankly overpowered skills for convincing people. Yet Jacob did not look like he carried any intentions towards securing votes for World Leader.

“It’s too soon, and there are far too many unknowns. Becoming World Leader will undoubtedly come with a lot of power but also a lot of responsibility. In addition, fear that it may put a target on our back from those who disagree. Finally… I see no possibility of us securing 60% of the votes. At least not yet.”

“I am confused… I find it doubtful that any faction will dare move against us directly? We represent the Holy Church on this planet, and any powerful forces with divine connections will surely want to join hands with us or, at a minimum, not dare stand in opposition. While I understand that the Court of Shadows and the undead are not to be taken lightly, I do not see-“

“Exactly, you don’t see it. The problem is that I don’t either. This entire World Congress is an utter enigma to not just me but the gods too. Not just due to the inability of skills to predict the system itself, but also due to the leader of Haven and the Sword Saints’ presence here,” Jacob explained.

Jacob would have loved to be able to divine what the best choices for this World Congress would be - to see the fates that the voting would result in and in concert the future of their entire planet. Sadly, things didn’t work that way.

The individuals present formed a maelstrom of destiny that threw all predictions off. Jake was the primary issue due to whatever fate-bending skill he had been given. If Jacob was honest, he knew that just the mere fact that Jake was a Chosen was enough to toss off all predictions, even if he didn’t have a skill. A single sentence from the Malefic One would throw off all predictions.

Anyone being blessed made it harder to predict anything related to them, but not to the level of Jake. Not even close. He could at least get a general feel for things with most people, but with Jake and Haven, it was just a black hole.

Additionally… usually the Holy Pantheon or even the Grand Master who was in charge of their section of planets would throw in a tip here and there… but in regards to Jake, it had been radio silence except the warning of not interacting with the Malefic Viper’s Chosen at all, and if he had to for some reason, limit it as much as humanly possible.

A warning Jacob had no intentions of following.

Stronger than me.

That was the assessment Miyamoto had when he saw the masked man for the first time - the enigmatic Earl that had claimed the very first Pylon.

Miyamoto was prideful and, in the eyes of many, arrogant, but he understood when he locked eyes with the man. He wasn’t the only one. He saw the arrogance and inherent challenge in the eyes of the man. He was an old man, but at that moment, he could barely contain his childlike excitement as one of his biggest fears was alleviated.

A fear that he would have to wait for the multiverse to open up to meet peers with the same drive and desire as himself. A tiny part of him had feared that the first to claim a Pylon had done it simply as a fluke and not due to his own power… something that clearly wasn’t the case.

Their duel would come… but not today. Today was not a day of fighting but one of forming bonds.

The masked man clearly understood this, too, as his first choice was to greet his brother. Miyamoto smiled as this was the first action taken, and his respect for the hunter grew. That he also possessed such a profound movement skill only making it all the better.

“Grandfather, should we still move according to plan?” his grandson, a middle-aged man, asked him.

“Yes. Focus on getting a good feel for the state of things, and as for this whole World Leader business… we shall abstain as our default choice. To make such a choice this early would be an act of foolishness,” Miyamoto answered as he threw a glance towards the Augur.

an assistant to his grandson asked. The man didn’t even bother hiding his contempt

would with anyone else. Do not make enemies because you fear the unknown. The system has brought us here as equals – as humans – so treat them

assistant straight in the eye, making him freeze up from the implied

an honor to finally meet you in person,” the large burly man said

look utterly ridiculous… and don’t call me mistress again. Ever. Carmen is fine.” Carmen

clearly grown with his evolutions, the evolution to D-grade no doubt coming in tight to make him the tallest man in the entire

a bear-head-cap on his head, with the three following him looking equally ridiculous. Of course, Carmen knew it was actually equipment that was likely as good as

robes worn by nearly all casters and healers, with many of those present also just wearing large cloaks, making it entirely possible that they looked ridiculous beneath

something as trivial as that,” Sven dismissively said as he waved his hand. “Here, let us

to enter an Alliance

as she directed Sven towards the actual city lord who was busy talking to their neighboring city. As one of the rare groups

it with that guy,” she said, pointing to the city lord behind

handle ourselves and are judging our ability to make our own decisions. We have backing of the highest level, so let’s use that and find likeminded individuals to join our ranks,

out as she looked around the room a bit more. That ability to split your attention between different things in D-grade was awesome when it

say, Sven was blessed by a god related to Valhal too. Valhal was a pantheon of gods founded by the Primordial named Valdemar. Unlike many others, it focused far more heavily on combat over everything else and didn’t care much for

proper fights, and was, in Carmen’s view, more common sense than anything. It talked about how there was no honor in mindless murder of those weaker than yourself and how one should fight foes in a straight-on

got and research your foes or use all your skills to their full extent. An assassin sneak-attacking was a part of their strength and not something to look down upon. Well, it likely also had something to do with how instantly killing anyone of equal strength was pretty damn hard in the post-system world – a sentiment that only got more and more true as one advanced through the grades. So a

Many warlords or career warriors of the multiverse found themselves recruited to Valhal, where they would interact with their

people. That those people then made Valdemar and Valhal the

in the truest sense… yet it was still one of the most feared – because even a faction as massive as the Holy Church didn’t dare fight the massive amount of war-crazed powerhouses belonging to

had only taken sides in conflicts a few times throughout the history of the multiverse.

just looking at the people in the hall talking as she picked up something from Sven

is the most powerful human currently on the planet, but if I had to guess, it would be the Hunter. Of course, it is entirely possible some hidden powerhouse exists, but

you compare me to them?” Carmen asked. Sven was many things, and a competent warrior and leader were undoubtedly one of them. With his axe in hand, he

to say… but I get the feeling that the two of us wouldn’t win if we fought either of those two together. Of course, my senses may be off, but I am getting some serious vibes from both of them,” Sven explained as

who was apparently his brother, before shifting it to the ancient-looking man who was currently moving with his

Jake had just quickly gone through a few key points of his own tutorial. He didn’t really bother

get their way. Well, it turned out pretty well in the end, if you ignore how

tutorial was present in this meeting. Jacob and Casper both part of two of the largest factions of the multiverse. Which left the question… what is that

virtual fighting arena they had where one could safely fight to the death without actually dying. He needed one of those for Haven, that’s

beings of untold power must be boring with how much they bothered messing with your tutorial. At least Umbra and the Court of Shadows seems pretty decent. Pretty sure they subscribe to the whole

silently behind him, not uttering a word but just observing Jake and Caleb

considering how stuck-up gods tend